Nicolas Anelka has fallen out with his latest club, China's Shanghai Shenhua, and is interesting QPR. Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images

The Queens Park Rangers manager, Harry Redknapp, has confirmed his interest in bringing Nicolas Anelka back to west London in January.

Anelka left Chelsea to join the Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua on 1 January this year after four years at Stamford Bridge. However, the 33-year-old looks set to end his spell in Shanghai following a pay dispute and Redknapp has said he would like to sign the former France, Arsenal, Manchester City, Bolton Wanderers and Liverpool striker – provided Rangers can afford him.

"He is a player that is of interest to anybody," Redknapp said. "I think he is finishing in China so he is available. It is what you can do, whether you can afford these players, what they are looking for, whether they are reasonable, whether you can deal with them and most importantly whether you think they can do the job you want.

"He is a top player, so he is a player we would be interested in, but whether we could afford to get anywhere near him I am not sure. I think the chairman knows Nicolas's people and so has got a few details on what it would be. It depends, as I say, just how expensive the whole package comes to. If it is within reason, he is a player that could certainly improve your team. There is no doubt about it."

Rangers confirmed on Friday that their technical director, Mike Rigg, has left the club along with the assistant manager, Mark Bowen, and the first-team coach, Eddie Niedzwiecki.

Rigg joined from Manchester City last season to renew his partnership with the then Rangers manager, Mark Hughes. But following Redknapp's appointment as Hughes's successor last month the club has opted for a further change.

"Queens Park Rangers football club can confirm that it has been agreed that Mike Rigg will leave his position at Loftus Road," said a club statement.

Bowen and Niedzwiecki, who have long been part of Hughes's coaching setup, have also been moved on, but Redknapp said that the goalkeeping coach, Kevin Hitchcock, and the head of coaching, Glyn Hodges, will be staying at Loftus Road.